# I don't WANT to smell like Paris! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2006, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521 "2006-02-08T07:27:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/21 "2006-02-08T19:51:16Z")
I buy perfume because I like the scent. I don’t care who’s name is on it. That doesn’t influence me one way or another. Not trying to stir the pot here, but isn’t avoiding a scent because it has a name on it just as bad as buying one because of it? Because your decision is _still_ being influenced by the name. 😉 But hey, this is coming from someone smelling like Glow, and I’m not a fan of J-Lo. It’s sitting next to my bottle of Fuzzy Peach from the Body Shop. ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/22 "2006-02-08T20:16:28Z")
When I saw the title, my first thought was, “what have you got against my favorite perfume, Champs Elysee”?" (Named for the famous street in Paris, France, where the Guerlain perfume & cosmetics company has its headquarters.) But I quite agree on the celebrity endorsement names. ---
**Author:** ![Shana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Shana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shana)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/23 "2006-02-08T20:24:00Z")
I suppose I’m in agreement with the OP. I would be embarassed to tell someone I’m wearing Paris Hilton’s new fragrance. No matter how fabulous it smells. That having been said, I adore fragrance! I have many in my arsenal - but nary a one with a celebrities name on it. Right now I’m all over Thierry Mugler’s “Angel”. Tomorrow it will be something else - but I don’t think Brittany will ever be on my perfume tray. I’m just not that curious! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/24 "2006-02-08T20:25:13Z")
> [@Anastasaeon](#): > > I buy perfume because I like the scent. I don’t care who’s name is on it. That doesn’t influence me one way or another. > > Not trying to stir the pot here, but isn’t avoiding a scent because it has a name on it just as bad as buying one because of it? Because your decision is _still_ being influenced by the name. 😉 > > But hey, this is coming from someone smelling like Glow, and I’m not a fan of J-Lo. It’s sitting next to my bottle of Fuzzy Peach from the Body Shop. Actually the name influences me somewhat. I liked one, years ago, but could never pronounce it right. Obviously I liked it, I used up three bottles and would have probably used up more, except I kept encountering problems when I bought it. The first time I asked for “A-neece, a-neece” (an acquaintance named Anais pronounces her name that way) and was told, rather snootily, “It’s uh-NIE-us.” Next time I had to buy it, I asked for “uh-NIE-us.” Different sales clerk: "Oh, you mean “Uh-NAICE?” One more time. One more pronunciation. This time: “Anna-ees.” Which was close to my original guess when I bought my original bottle. That was it. Three strikes. Not buying that one any more. Don’t think they make it anymore anyhow. And I don’t buy things I can’t pronounce because I feel like an idiot pointing and saying, “That one? The one third from the left–no, that’d be your right–no, down one, it’s kind of honey-colored? With the gold top? Yes! That one!” ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/25 "2006-02-08T20:32:42Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I’m afraid to know what Paris smells like… stale alcohol, cigarette smoke, burnt rubber and bodily fluids? The mind reels. Well, it smells like french people, so yeah… I agree with the OP, though I wouldn’t mind getting some of Stephen Colberts “Scorn”. Any cologue that has big, brass, balls as the cap as gotta be worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/26 "2006-02-08T20:39:18Z")
> [@Hilarity N. Suze](#): > > Actually the name influences me somewhat. I liked one, years ago, but could never pronounce it right. Obviously I liked it, I used up three bottles and would have probably used up more, except I kept encountering problems when I bought it. > > The first time I asked for “A-neece, a-neece” (an acquaintance named Anais pronounces her name that way) and was told, rather snootily, “It’s uh-NIE-us.” > > Next time I had to buy it, I asked for “uh-NIE-us.” Different sales clerk: "Oh, you mean “Uh-NAICE?” > > One more time. One more pronunciation. This time: “Anna-ees.” Which was close to my original guess when I bought my original bottle. Ooooooooh, _Anais Anais_? I don’t know how to pronounce it either. I just point at it. 😃 I would say A-nay A-nay, but lord only knows… I had a friend who used to pronounce Givenchy with a hard G… Give-inch-ee! She really enjoyed the scent Hot Couture - Hawt Cooter. :smack: But who am I to make fun? Like I said, I just point. If it’s not on display, I go somewhere else. Or I make conversation: “I never knew how to pronounce this name, how does one say it?” Sometimes, the counter lady will look a little flustered and admit she doesn’t really know, but she’s heard others say it. Sometimes I get a friendly tutorial. Sometimes I get a snotty one, too. But I ignore them - I’m getting my perfume! Mine! Screw you lady! Think you’re so big. Looking like you smell right good. Then I stick my chin in the air and tell them they’re not invited to my yacht party. Okay, no I don’t. I just take my perfume and smell it all the way home. Sometimes I stop for doughnuts. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/27 "2006-02-08T22:49:01Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I’m afraid to know what Paris smells like… stale alcohol, cigarette smoke, burnt rubber and bodily fluids? The mind reels. Topical herpes ointment, [piss](http://www.thesuperficial.com/archives/2006/01/19/paris_hilton_pees_herself_1.html), cocaine and bulimia vomit. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/28 "2006-02-08T23:02:12Z")
> [@Hilarity N. Suze](#): > > I am hereby boycotting all fragrances named after a live celebrity! Does that mean you wouldn’t mind smelling like a dead celebrity? Elvis should be pretty ripe by now… ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/29 "2006-02-08T23:22:44Z")
I rather like Britney’s “Curious.” I also get tons and tons of compliments when wearing it (from a full range of people: young girls to much, much older women). Britney’s other perfume “Fantasy” has, as they advertise, an afterscent of cupcakes. Really, it _does_ smell like cupcakes. I know, I know. I too said, “Wouldn’t it just smell like. . . cake?” But no, it smells like cupcakes. I’m not particularly fond of the stuff, but I got some for free at her album release party. Jennifer Lopez has a tropical one (in a tan/ orange bottle) that actually smells pretty good. The rest of them-- eh. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/30 "2006-02-08T23:46:04Z")
> [@vibrotronica](#): > > …piss… What makes that story/rumor so funny is the why the hack went [public](http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/4671.html): > [@](#): > > Mr. Jamison said he decided to go public with his story after being threatened by several of Ms. Hilton’s associates, who suggested that he could make more money **auctioning** bits of the towel on eBay than he could by **suing** Ms. Hilton Only in America. If you can’t make enough selling your story or suing them, market souvenirs to the masses. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/31 "2006-02-08T23:57:49Z")
Just as an aside, there is a perfume named [Paris](http://www.basenotes.net/ID10213396.html) by Yves St. Laurent. I’ve worn it since I was a sophomore in high school twenty years ago\*, so I’m fairly certain it has little to do with America’s Favorite Skank. \*OMFG, I was in high school twenty YEARS ago. _hyperventilates at the thought of her decrepitude_ ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521/32 "2006-02-09T00:22:46Z")
> [@Hilarity N. Suze](#): > > The first time I asked for “A-neece, a-neece” (an acquaintance named Anais pronounces her name that way) and was told, rather snootily, “It’s uh-NIE-us.” > > Next time I had to buy it, I asked for “uh-NIE-us.” Different sales clerk: "Oh, you mean “Uh-NAICE?” > > One more time. One more pronunciation. This time: “Anna-ees.” Which was close to my original guess when I bought my original bottle. The third one’s about right, in case you want to try again. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-want-to-smell-like-paris/343521.md?page=1)